Book case and holder



(No Model.)

0. T. B. SMITH. BOOK CASE AND HOLDER.

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. B. SMITH, OF LANSINGBURG, NEWV YORK.

BOOK CASE AND" HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,955, dated. January12, 1897. Application filed July 27, 1896. Serial No. 600,683. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lansingburg, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book Cases andHolders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described andsubsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in front elevation of my improvedbook case and holder. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken onthe broken line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable bookcase in whichbooks can be -transported conveniently; also, to provide a convenientholder for temporarily supporting an open book in connection with thebookcase.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bookcase, which is in theform of a rectangular box, open at one side and provided with thevertical partitions A, dividing the interior of the case into aplurality of separate compartments, each adapted to contain a book.

The books are severally supported in their respective compartments uponashoe or carriage B, which rests upon the bottom of the compartment. Theupper surface of the shoe is concaved in cross-section and adapted toreceive the convexed back or closed edge of the book. As the book thusrests upon the shoe within its compartment it is maintained in a closedposition by the engagement of its covers with'the partition-walls of thecase. The book is thus supported in a position which adapts it to beopened with little or no efiort as soon as the book and shoe arewithdrawn from the compartment.

In front of the open side of the case and a little below the level ofthe bottoms of the several compartments is a platform 0, extending thewhole length of the case and adapted to support and form a track orslideway for the book-holder D.

The book-holder comprises a base D, having one or more slidingdovetailed connections with the platform and a pair of up wardly flaringwings D which converge downwardly toward a notch D in the holder adaptedto receive the several shoes, the bottom of the notch being in the sameplane with the bottoms of the several compartments.

The dovetailed connection between the holder and platform comprises atongueD depending from the baseof the holder and loosely fitting withina similarly-formed longitudinal groove D in the upper surface of theplatform.

The holder is movable along its slideway transversely of thecompartments of the bookcase, and is adapted to be located with itsnotch D in position to register with the lower end of a selectedcompartment, and when so located the shoe contained in such compartmentcan, with its supported book, be Withdrawn therefrom into the notch D bymeans of the knob-handle D attached to the front end of the shoe. Whenso withdrawn, the shoe rests on the holder within the notch, and as thebook is opened it is supported by the wings D in a position convenientfor use. The holder can be thus used in connection with each bookcontained in the case.

The slideway-grooves D extend the whole length of the slideway-platformand are open at both ends to facilitate the attachment of the holder tothe platform and itsremoval therefrom, as well as to permit the holderto project beyond the end of the platform in adjusting the apparatus foruse in connection with the compartment at either end of the case.

The dovetailed form of sliding connection between the holder andplatform prevents the holder from being overturned when it projects aconsiderable distance beyond the end of the platform, as when it is inposition for its notch to register with either end compartment. 1

The form of holder shown is especially adapted for use in schools orpublic libraries, as the upwardly-flaring wings support the open book ina position convenient for inspection, but unsuitable for use as a deskor ISO writing-table, and such wings prevent the book from being openedsufficiently far to break or strain the binding.

The position of the open book is indicated by dotted lines 13 in Fig. 1,while at B a book is shown supported upon a shoe within one of thecompartments.

The shoes protect the books from wear in the operation of transferringthem to and from the holder.

I have shown the platform 0 hinged at O to the bottom of the bookcaseand adapted when the holder D is removed to form a door or cover for theopen side of the case. In Fig". 2 I have indicated by dotted lines C theposition of such cover when closed, in which position it can be securedby the locking mechanism C, which may be of any known form. By providingthe case with such a cover and lock it is adapted to form a permanentportable bookcase in which a set of books can be shipped from thepublisher or dealer directly to the user, the case being especiallyconstructed and adapted for the size, form, and number of volumes to becontained therein.

It is only necessary for the user to lower the cover to the positionshown and apply the holder thereto to adapt the apparatus for use.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and subdivided intoa plurality of separate book-compartments, of book-supporting shoes inthe several compartments, a

platform extending along the open side of the case and provided with aslideway, and a book-holder movable along the platformslidewaytransversely of the book-compartments and adapted to receive the severalshoes and hold the shoe-supported book in an open position,substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and provided withseparate bookcompartments, of a slideway-platform hinged to the bottomof the case and adapted to cover the open side thereof, lockingmechanism for such cover, and a detachable bookholder movable along theplatform transversely of the book-compartments and adapted to supportthe several books in an open position, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and having separatebook-compartments, and a slideway-platform extending along the open sideof the case, of book supporting shoes in the several compartments, and abook-holder movable along the slideway and having a notch adapted toreceive the several shoes, and a pair of upwardly-flaring wings adaptedto hold the shoesupported book in an open position, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of July,1896.

- (7. 'l. B. SMITH \Vitnesses:

FRANK C. CURTIS, THOMAS H. GREY.

